What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is when you engage in and maintain moment by moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, body, and your environment. Mindfulness is also a mental state that is achieved by focusing on the present moment while also allowing yourself to feel your true emotions. The practice of mindfulness is where there is no judgment. You are free to be yourself, free to feel how you honestly feel with no guilt. To engage in mindfulness is to engage in the present moment, not thinking of the past and not anticipating anything regarding the future.

You can begin mindfulness practices by just focusing on your breathing. Take a long cleansing breath. Breathe in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Now do it again and this time think of your lungs filling up with air and then the air going back out of your lungs. Now in the third time, hold your breath for seven seconds before you exhale.

If you can, take a short walk outside. Take a mindfulness walk outside. As you walk, pay attention to your senses. Pay attention to what you see, hear, smell, in touch. If you cannot take a walk outside, then visualize yourself outside and visualize what you would be experiencing with your senses.

Another type of mindfulness is called grounding. This is where you just pay attention to where you are at at the moment. Reach out and touch and hold on to the chair you are sitting in or touch what is next to you. Tell yourself that you are safe and at peace as you focus on your close surroundings.

So allow yourself to feel your true emotions and feelings. Acknowledge and allow yourself to be you honestly. Recognize and acknowledge any body sensations that you may feel at this time. Take slow deep breaths and after you allow yourself to feel everything that you truly feel, talk to yourself positively. Tell yourself that you are okay and that you were going to be okay. Tell yourself that you are at peace.

Blessings, Diane

Diane Gammon LPC-MHSP(temp) NCC, M.S.

Clinical Mental Heath Counselor

615-556-8406

Email:

Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

Disclaimer, I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. This blog is to provide support and inspiration. Please seek a medical doctor before starting any new health regiments.